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The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA) has strongly refuted the false claims circulating in a recent video alleging that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) under the Ministry’s care have been abandoned.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Maryam Keshinro, in a statement noted that “these accusations are not only misleading but also undermine the structured, ongoing efforts to protect and empower survivors.”
First, the statement stated, “it is crucial to clarify the Ministry’s role in SGBV interventions.
“By constitutional mandate, state governments are responsible for managing SGBV shelters and survivor support systems through their respective State Ministries of Women Affairs.
“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs operates only one temporary shelter in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which is designated for urgent, high-risk cases requiring immediate federal intervention. This facility is not a long-term care home but a transitional space where survivors receive immediate support before being reintegrated into appropriate state or community-based systems.
“Beyond emergency shelter, the Ministry has taken a proactive approach to survivor support”, the Ministry explained.
In 2024, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs conducted a nationwide needs assessment across Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, and the FCT to identify gaps in survivor services.
“This assessment directly informed the Ministry’s targeted interventions, ensuring resources were allocated where they were needed most and strengthening collaboration with state authorities to improve survivor support frameworks.
“The Ministry has taken the following steps to support survivors and strengthen Nigeria’s SGBV response system:
1.Direct Shelter Interventions:
•On December 14, 2024, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs personally visited the FCT shelter, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team.
•During this visit, six survivors and their families received psychosocial counseling, stipends, food supplies, and hygiene kits.
•Two survivors with critical health needs were provided urgent medical care.
•Others received customized support packages—including economic grants and housing assistance—to ensure long-term stability.
•Outcome: By January 2025, all survivors had successfully transitioned out of the shelter under full reintegration plans.
2.Follow-Up and Extended Support:
•On March 5, 2025, the Ministry conducted a follow-up review for a particularly vulnerable survivor.
•In response, the Ministry:
•Secured additional temporary accommodation and increased financial support.
•Designed a tailored rehabilitation plan.
•Assigned a dedicated caseworker to oversee progress
Broader Actions Taken to Address SGBV issues include:
3.Systemic Strengthening and Policy Reforms:
•Finalizing a National Action Plan on SGBV, set for adoption in Q2 2025.
•Partnering with Experts on SGBV, NAPTIP and civil society organizations to standardize shelter operations and survivor care protocols.
•Expanding federal shelter capacity and enhancing training programs for state-level staff.
•Seeking intervention emergency and operational Funds to address urgent issues that come up.
•Legislative reviews on Laws on Violelnce and Abuse such as the Vapp Act and other legal and policy instruments.”
The allegations made in the circulated video are entirely false, the Ministry affirmed, adding that “they distort the facts and undermine the progress being made to address gender-based violence in Nigeria. Every case brought to the Ministry’s attention is treated with urgency and care, and every claim is rigorously verified.”
Assuring of access to information, the women affairs ministry said, “We encourage Nigerians, the media, and all stakeholders to seek factual information directly from the Ministry. The FMWA’s commitment to survivors is unwavering, evidence-based, and results-driven—reflected in its immediate interventions, long-term support systems, and broader systemic reforms.”
